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"I hope you don’t uests we have are usually my parents, so the roo for a pillow on the bed and straightening the ruffled case that’s covering it This rooain, thank you," I say, herto look at --before pushing her lips into a tight s as she turns to leave Cass co fan," I s fan either, based on our phone conversation, but I don’t tell her that

"She’s just not used to a boy being here It’s weird for her I was sort of surprised she said yes, but my dad made this face at her I think he’s sort of on your side," she says, her ser There’s a part of me that thinks her dad may have lured me here to ?" I ask, unzippingout my few toiletries I don’t look at her while I do this, because I don’t want her to see the hurt onuntil a few days ago, though I’m sorry…" she says, and I look up with a soft sizing I’ll get over being hurt This isn’t about e or her parents It’s about her, and people need to let it just be about her

"That I didn’t tell you," she says

I shrug again and go back to putting ht table I pullet it You were scared And talking about things like weaknessesmy watch to her

She takes it and looks at it closely "Soh I don’t kno I didn’t see it before

She hands the watch back, but I shake my head no Her brow furrows

"You keep it," I say She looks back down, rolling the ets to the always "This…isn’t meant for me"

"It’shtly She looks up at ive And you need it"

Her hands stay in mine for a few more seconds, and I relaxto keep the watch She puts it around her wrist, clipping the clasp It’s about five rungs too big for her thin arh

"You can push it up to your bicep, wear it like an iPod," I joke, and she chuckles back

"Yeah, that won’t look weird," she says, twisting the silver around her arm a few times, her breath held, until she looks back atback That was a lie--it’s everything I never thought I would be able to live without that watch Now, I don’t think I can live without Cass’s set that back, ry?" she asks

"Does a bear shit in the woods?"

She stops me at the doorway as I follow her out "Yeah, uhm, maybe turn the Ty down, just a notch, until my mom warms up to you?"

"What? Your ainst Leo and grizzlies? I don’t know, Cass, I’ to think y’all have so like I’h when I can tell she’s not in the mood "Got it, tone down the bear shit Done," I salute her

I watch her carefully for the rest of the night Herher a plate to eat on the sofa I join her there, deciding to stay near her instead of at the table with her e Even if laser beams of disdain didn’t come froh to her IShe needs me now

We watch television, a full couch cushion apart while her e are in the roo In --we talk over each other Hell, I’ so much Here, it’s pin-drop kind of quiet

"Where’s your dad," I whisper to her, after her sister finally leaves the room